New Helicopter Pilot

New Volunteer Missionary

Helicopter Pilot

“And we know that to those who love God, all things work together for good, that is, to those who according to their purpose are called” Romans 8:28

Locals next to the Zulads missionaries deployed with the helicopter in Kiblawan
south of Mindanao, Philippines

…And come; follow me.

I’ve been a Missionary Pilot in the Philippines for 9 months now and I decided to publish my testimony to glorify our good God. May this be an inspiration to those who are about to go into the mission field, to put everything on the altar and depend fully on God.

I am Panamanian. I was raised in a Christian home and baptized at the age of 8. Since I was little I liked airports and airplanes. When I left high school I went to the city and enrolled in the helicopter pilot course. I had to work and study at the same time. When I moved to the city, I stopped attending church and little by little I drifted away from everything related to God. My efforts were focused on working and making money. I managed to finish the private and commercial helicopter pilot courses and then I obtained an instructor’s license. After five years, the company I was working for sent me to become an agricultural pilot (aerial fumigation). My work environment changed and the city life of temptations, pleasures and vanity was replaced by a calmer environment. Being at my new place of work, I had more free time and I decided to go to church some Saturday’s, but I didn’t feel worthy to be there because of the remorse of having distanced myself from God. Despite that, I was able to meet people who helped me feel welcome, so I continued to attend when I didn’t have to work on Saturdays.

Back to the First Love!

“However, I have against you that you have left your first love. Remember, therefore, where you have fallen from. Repent! And do the first works. Otherwise, I will come to you soon and remove your candlestick from its place, if you do not repent.” Revelation 2: 4, 5

In January 2016 I accepted to return to the faith in which I was instructed since childhood. I decided not to work on Saturday, even if it cost me my well-paid salary. In those moments before and after my re-baptism I was watching sermons by Pastor David Gates which inspired me to make a total dedication to the service of God. Seeing those videos led me to find by chance a video of the PAMAS aviation project in the Philippines. Going as a missionary to fly for free, without any remuneration was something I thought a lot about, but at the same time I felt that I needed to experience what it really was to depend on God. After a long mental struggle, God spoke to me through the parable of the rich young man, recorded in Matthew 19:16-30, and like the rich young man, I wanted to be saved. Jesus’ instruction was clear: “Jesus said to him: If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” For me, that meant I had to sell what I could sell, quit my job and travel to the Philippines to work without pay, without social security, etc. It was something that I was willing to do, but I was not really certain. One Friday afternoon I decided to test God. I said in prayer, if by next Wednesday I could rent or sell my apartment in the city that would be a sign confirming that this was His will. I would then give up my job and prepare myself to travel to the Philippines.

I had already advertised renting it, but without any results. Then on Monday, I received a call from some people wanting to see the apartment. That same day they agreed to rent it for three months. I thanked God for answering my prayer in just three days. Now it was my part, I resigned and prepared everything to travel to the Philippines. After that confirmation from God, I felt safe, confident, and certain I was not committing madness like some friends and even brothers in the church told me. I spoke with my family, who supported me immediately, my boss sadly accepted my resignation, and I was happy for the noble and humanitarian character of the work I was going to do.

Preparing for the trip wasn’t easy. Training the pilot who would replace me, buying airline tickets, selling everything I could, and sending what I couldn’t sell to my parents’ house. It was an exhausting job. March 12 was the day of my departure and seeing my strong mother cry to say goodbye broke my heart. Despite the pain of having to leave my family, I still clung to the promise “And anyone who leaves houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or woman, or children, or lands, for my name, will receive a hundred so many times, and will inherit eternal life.”Matthew 19:29.

The Trip

It was a long trip, many hours and three stops. I was literally traveling to the other side of the world, to an unknown country. I was very nervous, and I prayed that everything would go well. I thank God that I arrived safe in Manila on March 14, 2017. I joined a group of missionaries from the USA who invited me to help conduct an evangelistic campaign and medical attention in a small town north of Manila. After two weeks, it was time to join PAMAS.

Going to the hospital from Kabulnukan (remote community on Palawan Island.)

PAMAS

I had to change my Panamanian pilot license into a Filipino pilot’s license. It was a long process, which involved filling out many forms, doing exams, etc. But thank God the whole process was fluid and there were no major setbacks. After having the Philippine license I traveled with Dwayne to the island of Palawan where the first air base of PAMAS is located. I would replace Daniel (a helicopter pilot) while he was traveling to the USA to obtain an excavator that had been donated. I was in Palawan for about two months and during that time I flew the helicopter for very sick patients needing to get to an emergency hospital. I also transferred missionaries to their mission field in the mountains, other times I was loaded with food and equipment to deliver to them. The time passed quickly and a few days after Daniel returned from the USA. We flew together with the helicopter to the Island of Mindanao approximately six hours away, with a stop on the island of Lloilo to refuel. God certainly protected us on that trip, since most of the time we flew over the sea.

This gentleman was stabbed in the neck and on the head

I visited the man who was stabbed and by the grace of God

In Mindanao, I transported the SULADS missionaries to their workplaces through the different fields in central and southern Mindanao. Daniel and I divided the flights and everything went well until we arrived at a town called Lake Cebu where we had trouble just minutes before landing. The helicopter’s engine started to fail. We were almost over our destination and Daniel, who was flying the helicopter at the time, was prepared for the emergency. I didn’t have the controls and I felt powerless. I knew something wasn’t right and I wanted to do something, so I prayed. I begged God for His protection. In my years of experience as a pilot, I had some problems in flight, but this time, I was not at the controls and I was scared.

Daniel focused on landing as soon as possible, which meant that the approach was steep. The landing was hard with some forward movement. This was actually perfect to dampen the energy of the fall. Everything happened in slow motion, but it was an emergency handled very well by Daniel. I don’t think it could have been better; angels were protecting us. We were alive, the helicopter was in one piece with two cylinders destroyed. God protected us from something much worse and we were grateful for His protection. We had to leave the helicopter and travel by land to our next destination.

Preparing the mixture to pour the floor at the future PAMAS air base in Mindanao, Philippines

I returned to Mindanao with Dwayne, Ray and Phoebe and we went to Lake Cebu looking for the helicopter to take it to MVC (Mountain View College). After the helicopter was in a safe place, I started working with Ray at the Mindanao Air Base. There we worked on constructing the cement floor for a hangar. That was new for me and not very easy because it was a labor intensive job, nothing like flying a helicopter. It’s a job that demands physical effort which is good for the body and next to a vegetarian diet, the benefits multiply.

Carlos mowing the lawn of the orchard in Banuar, north of Luzon, Philippines

Carlos helping to wash the plane at the base of PAMAS in Banuar, North of Luzon, Philipinas

Even though I was not flying, I knew that God’s will was being fulfilled and I was learning new skills. Two and a half months passed and once the floor of the hangar was finished, we had to go to Banuar, a town in the province of Quirino on the island of Luzon.

BANUAR

PAMAS has its second base in Banuar. The hangar is already built and it was just waiting for a plane and a helicopter to start the missionary aviation work there. I spent the last 4 and a half months in Banuar before returning to Panama. God provided an airplane in October which would be flown by Ray. We are still praying fervently for God to provide the necessary funds for the helicopter, which I would pilot.

Bible school with the children of the Hillside community in Mindanao

Living by Faith

People ask how I survived nine months without receiving a salary by giving up a good paying job in my country. How did I pay for the commitments I left in my country? The answer to that question is summarized by what our Lord Jesus said: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”Matthew 6:33. Before I traveled to the Philippines God was already working on how He would meet my needs. During these nine months I have received the money for renewal visas, transportation, food, etc. Every month through friends and even through people I don’t know, God supplied. Since September my apartment hasn’t been rented, and I’ve used up all the savings I had to pay the mortgage. It’s been two months since my accounts have been at zero. I trust that since God has helped me so far, He will also help me in the future according to His will. Thanks to all my family and friends who have been supporting me with their prayers and resources, God bless you!

I have decided to dedicate my life to the complete service of the Lord, to give everything to Him. The return of Jesus is imminent and we have to concentrate on finishing what was entrusted to us. If it is God’s will, He will provide the resources for me to return to the Philippines. God is faithful. I encourage you to test God and see that He keeps His promises according to His will. God bless you!